Kat Finney & Lance Robbins

By: Isla Wilson

Is what we do with our lives something that defines us? Potentially, but defining life on your own may be what it takes to make something out of it. Ms. Kat Finney, middle school teacher at Normal Park Upper, started teaching as a last resort — having grown up working with children, why would she dedicate the rest of her life to it? Enrolling in college was a graduation of its own; a relief from babysitting and dance classes, and an opportunity to chase her dream career.

Around this same time, a man named Lance Robbins was beginning his own career in the aviation field — a dream he'd had forever, one that had been hindered by growth but one that he was finally able to achieve nonetheless. Coming from a bland big-nothing town in South Carolina, it was obvious that he was eager and ready.

Upon completing her undergrad, Ms. Finney found out quickly that her dream career had been anything but — it was instead a profession focused on market ventures rather than the passion and art which had been advertised. Quickly, she took a last minute teaching job — something on-the-fly, with nothing to really look forward to. How could you prepare for something with so much responsibility in such little time?

However, after only about a month of teaching her first class, she realized that this was what she wanted to do. The path to get there may not have been conventional, but the environment was what clicked with her and set her to pursue a teaching license. On the environment in question, she states that "Everyone cared about the children, more than anything else. It reminded me that there are many, many people and organizations focused on doing good and helping others find their voice."

Lance's dreams were also coming to a halt. The road to becoming a pilot was steep, especially when one tries to pursue that path much later in their life. But that did not stop him from persevering — after stepping into an airplane and being the driving force behind it, he knew what he wanted to commit to. When asked about his decisions to continue pursuing aviation, Lance notes that he wouldn't change a thing… except for maybe trying earlier. Would he recommend the job to anyone else? "Only if you're okay with incredibly long hours, and massive expenditures the first three to four years. Flying is the easy part — the knowledge is what takes a long, long time to accrue… and bring money. Lots and lots of money."

When asked about ideal environments for teaching, Ms. Finney mentions how everyone plays a role — whether they're teachers, students, or families, they all work in tandem. Just because they can't all be together at the same time doesn't mean they can't all contribute. "It takes a village to raise a child, but that applies to learning too."

So, how do these experiences define people? Well — they do, and they don't. For Lance, the ultimate goal wasn't to fly. It was to fulfill something he'd thought about since he was a small town kid with far bigger dreams.

For Ms. Finney, teaching hasn't necessarily shaped who she is. "If anything, teaching reminds me of who I am and who I want to be, someone who helps others discover themselves and improve their lives."

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